Mobile application for the dissemination, learning and revitalisation of the native Muniche language in the Peruvian Amazon, in the context of Covid-19

ABSTRACT

The present work comprises the conceptualisation, design, development and validation of the software called 'Jiaminchií', created to support educational processes in times of COVID-19 and the recovery of the Muniche language. The Muniches are an endangered indigenous Peruvian nation located in the province of Alto Amazonas in the Loreto region. The research group proposes as educational tools the use of mobile software applications to continue with the educational service in indigenous communities, which is a complex problem in Peru, considering the limitations and conditions generated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The application has been conceptualised based on the basic contents for learning the Muniche language (review of the dictionary and other documentation), the community of Villa Muniche has been visited and the participation of one of the 3 speakers has been achieved through the generation of a sound bank based on the prioritised contents. The validation included a test group with children from indigenous communities. Two groups were formed, the first used the software and the second received the same contents using the traditional method. Among the most important results, it can be mentioned that the use of the 'Jiaminchií' application in the education of the indigenous communities of Alto Amazonas overcomes a series of limitations typical of schools in the indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon. © 2021 IEEE.